Archivist (pictured) capped a very successful Carnival for owners Wathnan Racing when he took the Phi Advertising Handicap – the feature race of Friday’s finale at Meydan Racecourse.
Trained by Hamad Al Jehani, the four-year-old had a month break after finishing third in the Lord Glitters Handicap last time out. He was spring-heeled here, wearing a hood for the first time. Positioned just off the leaders by jockey Pat Dobbs, he extended away in the straight for a two and quarter length win over Indian Springs.
“I think the hood was a big difference tonight, he never sweated before the race and got into a really good rhythm going down,” said Dobbs after riding the gelding for the first time.
“He’s very straightforward with the hood and has a nice turn of foot. Ross [Atkinson] who rides him out said he’ll get to the line strong and he did that, he picked up well.”
12-time UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea celebrated a double on the night, which may just have settled Champion Trainer honours for his boss Bhupat Seemar.
The second leg of the double came on Diamond Dealer, who put up a no-nonsense performance in the closing Binghatti Handicap. Settled just off the leaders, he was asked for his effort off the home turn and powered away, always holding off the closing Nam Phrik who crossed the line three lengths behind.
“I’m very happy for His Highness [owners Al Athbah Racing],” said O’Shea. “That’s his [Diamond Dealer’s] fourth win of the season, two at Meydan, two at Jebel Ali, so he’s very versatile. He’s a horse on the up and he has a big pedigree, being a half-brother to [G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner] White Abarrio.
“He’s always showed us a lot of talent – at one stage Bhupat thought he was a UAE Derby horse but his mind didn’t allow it. He’s numerically our winning most horse for the season now.”
“Green as an apple” was the call from commentator Pat Comerford when Raasil opened his account in the ARN Maiden, over 1400metres on dirt – the first leg of the O’Shea/Seemar double.
The three-year-old Tonalist colt weaved around in the straight but was produced in good time for a win at the seventh attempt.
“He’s like his rider; he’s a big baby!” said O’Shea. “He jumped OK and kinda put the breaks on, he got a little bit intimidated but once I got him in the clear in the straight, he ran on well. He’s a horse who will go two turns no problem – he won snug enough in the end.
“He’s learning on the job, he’s a very laid back, lazy character at home, so I’m sure there’s more to come. I think he’ll get ten furlongs [2000metres] no problem and he’ll improve.”
Crisford Winning Spree Continues
A brilliant Carnival for father/son training partnership Simon and Ed Crisford concluded with the victory of Will Scarlet in the 2410metre turf Autism In Racing Handicap, race seven. The well-bred five-year-old was making his fourth start at Meydan and dictated the race, kicking on from 600metres out and winning by four lengths from Spanish raider Finely Tuned.
“Ed was quite confident that if we could get in front, all this horse does is gallop and he was right, he loved it out in front and wasn’t stopping over the line,” said winning rider Ray Dawson. “We didn’t have to be in front, so when we got there I kind of just left my lad alone and he really wanted to race.
“He’s a dude of a horse, a gentleman, and he really deserved that win.”
Lahfaty has been a reliable mare for Michael Costa this season and she collected career win number six in the Zoho Handicap, race six, over 1200metres on dirt.
Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, she made all the running, asserting from 400metres out and beating Billy Webster by half a length. The five-year-old was dropping in trip after finishing fifth over 1400metres last time out.
“Last time we went a step top far but that was the only option for her,” said de Sousa. “She loves running here, she loves the deep surface. When things go her way she’s a different mare.
“She pinched a length and a half and got a bit lonely in front but when the other horse came on my inside she found another breath and went forward. She’s tough and consistent.”
Ramadan Gets His Meydan Win
There were wild scenes of delight after the ARN Handicap, race three, when trainer Kareem Ramadan, who trains just seven horses, registered his first win of the season and first ever at Meydan.
His Blue Trail still holds the course track record over 2000metres from 2023 when trained by Charlie Appleby. He cut back to 1800metres no problem here, picking up well in the straight and beating Tohoku by two lengths.
It was a third win of the season for Brazilian jockey Francisco Leandro Goncalves, who was delighted for connections.
“He’s a very good horse, I’m very happy,” he said. “It’s very emotional, thanks to the team.”
“We did it, my boy did it!” added an emotional Ramadan. “I have just seven horses, only four Thoroughbreds, so this is really big for us.”
There was another first in race four, the Phi Advertising Handicap, over 1900metres on dirt, when Lahresh just edged Moon Blade, giving French jockey Jules Mobian his first Meydan winner.
It was a third course win for Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s gelding, but first since 2023, and his jockey was delighted.
“I’m so happy, proud of the race and of the horse and I’d just like to thank Mr Musabbeh for giving me the chance and this horse – I’m so, so happy,” said Mobian. “I have been chasing this victory for three years.
“Bernardo [Pinheiro, on Moon Blade] and I were looking at each other on the line, but the camera was on him so I thought he had won.”
Jockey Charlie Bennett celebrated his first Meydan winner of the season when the filly Turquoise landed the opening Arabian Triple Crown Round 2 [sponsored by Fazaa], for Purebred Arabians, over 1800metres on turf.
Trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi, the four-year-old reversed form with the well-fancied Amer Burn, who beat her in the Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1, at Abu Dhabi. Given a patient ride, she ground out victory by half a length over RB Al Qaaher, with Amer Burn third.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what happened last time, maybe she wasn’t at her best,” said Bennett.
“We usually just let her sit where she’s comfortable but I wanted to have Tadhg [O’Shea, on Amer Burn] in my sights as I thought on paper there was only four that could win. She didn’t quite fire last time, but she did it well today, so it’s good news for the future.”
Meydan’s next scheduled meeting is the 30th Dubai World Cup, on Saturday, 28 March.